Laugh Track on the Show

Eight is Enough Messageboards

Subject: Laugh Track on the Show

Subject: Laugh Track on the Show
Name: Gwynne
Date:Friday, 19-Feb-99 12:14:09Message:why does this show have a laugh track? It is not appriopriate and sounds silly.

Replies...Name: ?
Message:I agree. It has always annoyed me. I mean it's not like it was a half hour sitcom. It was a drama series mixed with comedy. I think we can decide for ourselves when we think something is funny. I guess since it was a drama show they wanted to be sure we didn't laugh at an inappropriate time :-) But I agree, it was not necessary.

Name: Rabbity
Message:Had laugh tracks--Love Boat, most of the sitcoms, etc. I think the only 2 I can think of that did not was "Fantasy Island " & " Charlie's Angels" although they'd do something stupid ( like Tattoo try to learn magic tricks or the Angels plan Bosley a surprise party ) to lighten up the mood.....

Name: Exita
Message:It does sound silly. If you notice in the last season 5 it was the worst. They made it seem like it was a total comedy.

Name: Susan
Message:I taped several episodes of the last season during its first season in syndication--1982. There is no laugh track on those tapes. Do you suppose it was added for this round of syndication?

Name: Wayne
Message:re:It does sound silly. If you notice in the last season 5 it was the worst. They made it seem like it was a total comedy.

No wonder the show got cancelled after that season ended. The laugh track was completely tacky and fake.

Also take into the account that while the actors were on strike in 1980, NBC got many to sample Real People, a show unaffected by the actors strike, in first runs for the first few weeks while Enough started late that season. By that time, people have decided they liked NBC's offering better and eventually it moved to Sat where Barbara Mandrell finished them off at 8 over there.

Eight could have gone another season if it was moved up to 9 Wed or whatever else was there, but would it have mattered anyway. Thoughts?

Name: Jodi
Message:I think another season would have been over-kill. The show had run its course, and better to go out leaving the audience wanting more than not even bothering to tune in.

Name: Missy
Message:You're probably right, maybe they were running out of ideas for episodes and decided to end the show rather than coming up with a lot of silly ideas and making the show just plain silly.

Name: Missy
Message:Know something? I never even notice the laugh track. I guess I'm so into the show I don't notice it, and also I'm so used to there always being a laugh track in EVERY comedy show I just don't hear it any more.

Name: Julie
Message:I never noticed the laugh track either... till all of you started complaining about it... I just enjoy the show, I don't criticize it.

Name: Tina
Message:i agree with you julie i dont care about the laugh track. i just love watching the show. what is your favorite episode of eight? my favorite is when the bradfords war also when nicholas runs away to san diego i know it was sad but i could relate to nicholas no one in the house would help him.